Aa
mutual oral sex and exposure
I'm a 38 y/o gay male in a monogamous relationship. I've been on an extended research trip in Europe for the past three months. Twelve days ago, I had a reckless encounter with a guy I didn't know before. We gave each other unprotected oral sex without ejaculation inside the mouth, but I probably was exposed to pre-seminal fluid. Oral sex was somewhat rough, so afterwards my throat was a bit sore and red, and I also think that at one point, after the guy had left, I noticed a tiny bit of blood in my spit after having cleared my throat.
Right after the encounter, I started panicking, partly because of guilt for cheating on my partner, partly because of fear that I may have exposed myself to HIV (I'm indeed a bit paranoid about it and in retrospect the guy seems quite promiscuous, although we didn't meet at a bar or a sex club). I couldn't sleep all night and only somewhat calmed down the next day after having browsed dozens of web pages and reading about the relatively low risk from oral sex without ejaculation.
However, exactly eight days after the possible exposure, I developed diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever with some backpain and headache. Of course, I had another panic attack, being sure it was ARS. The fever persisted for about two days (37.5-38.5 deg. C), diarrhea for another day or two--it seems to be going away right now, although not yet completely. I didn't notice any swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or rash. Admiteddly, a friend I have here had similar symptoms last week--diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, but no fever--so it is indeed possible that there is some stomach infection circulating.
How much do you think I should worry? I do know that HIV infection can't be diagnosed through any symptoms and that only tests are conclusive, but I'm having these bouts of worry and I'm scared of having to wait for three months to test. Does it make any sense for me to take a PCR test and when exactly? How much are my symptoms actually consistent with ARS? Is it possible that I indeed contracted some stomach infection, but that fever from ARS only coincided with it, since my friend who had the same infection never developed fever? I know that my questions may sound silly, but I need a level headed opinion and I don't have anyone here to ask. Thanks.
Right after the encounter, I started panicking, partly because of guilt for cheating on my partner, partly because of fear that I may have exposed myself to HIV (I'm indeed a bit paranoid about it and in retrospect the guy seems quite promiscuous, although we didn't meet at a bar or a sex club). I couldn't sleep all night and only somewhat calmed down the next day after having browsed dozens of web pages and reading about the relatively low risk from oral sex without ejaculation.
However, exactly eight days after the possible exposure, I developed diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever with some backpain and headache. Of course, I had another panic attack, being sure it was ARS. The fever persisted for about two days (37.5-38.5 deg. C), diarrhea for another day or two--it seems to be going away right now, although not yet completely. I didn't notice any swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, or rash. Admiteddly, a friend I have here had similar symptoms last week--diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, but no fever--so it is indeed possible that there is some stomach infection circulating.
How much do you think I should worry? I do know that HIV infection can't be diagnosed through any symptoms and that only tests are conclusive, but I'm having these bouts of worry and I'm scared of having to wait for three months to test. Does it make any sense for me to take a PCR test and when exactly? How much are my symptoms actually consistent with ARS? Is it possible that I indeed contracted some stomach infection, but that fever from ARS only coincided with it, since my friend who had the same infection never developed fever? I know that my questions may sound silly, but I need a level headed opinion and I don't have anyone here to ask. Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The risk of acquiring HIV from any single episode of performing fellatio is estimated in the range of 1 chance in 10,000, if the insertive partner has HIV. So if you make a guess that thhere was a 50:50 chance your partner had HIV, your risk is in the range of 1 in 20,000. That means you could do the same thing every day the rest of your life and expect it to take up to 55 years before you got infected.
Your symptoms do not suggest ARS, which to my knowledge doesn't often start with gastrointestinal symtpoms--and you have another obvious cause for those symptoms, probably garden variety traveler's diarrhea.
Because of you ancieties, you should have HIV testing to ease your mind. Definitely do not have a PCR test, which is not designed to detect low-probability infections. There is a greater chance of having a false-positive result than a true-positive resulk; and think what you'll go through if you get a positive result that takes a few weeks to sort out as truly negative. Just have a standard antibody test 4-6 weeks after the event.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Your symptoms do not suggest ARS, which to my knowledge doesn't often start with gastrointestinal symtpoms--and you have another obvious cause for those symptoms, probably garden variety traveler's diarrhea.
Because of you ancieties, you should have HIV testing to ease your mind. Definitely do not have a PCR test, which is not designed to detect low-probability infections. There is a greater chance of having a false-positive result than a true-positive resulk; and think what you'll go through if you get a positive result that takes a few weeks to sort out as truly negative. Just have a standard antibody test 4-6 weeks after the event.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Thanks a lot for a quick answer. It's a great relief to hear a cool minded opinion. I'll have a test in 4-6 weeks to ease my mind. This was a good lesson.
you probably have a higher risk of testing positive for cancer. It's a waste of time to test.
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